The opioid epidemic leads to roughly 175 overdose deaths a day, according to the White House.

White House counselor Kellyanne Conway is favoring political appointees over drug policy experts as she heads the Trump administration’s effort to address the opioid epidemic, according to a report Tuesday.

Conway’s opioid meetings have included cabinet members and other Trump associates, but not the acting director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy.

Taylor Weyeneth, who had no relevant experience in drug policy, became a key figure in the Office of National Drug Control Policy.

(Mike Segar/REUTERS)

Trump is expected to propose massive cuts this month to the “drug czar” office and its senior leadership consists of a skeleton crew of three political appointees, down from nine a year ago, according to Politico.

The White House also announced last month that Taylor Weyeneth, who was deputy chief of staff at the Office of National Drug Control Policy, would leave after reports that the recent St. Johns University graduate had no relevant experience and falsely indicated that he had a master’s degree.

Rich Baum, the office’s acting director, and other policy experts who have advocated for addiction treatment over enforcement have not been invited to Conway’s opioid cabinet meetings, despite the administration’s promises to battle the growing epidemic.

Conway’s team is meant to institute the recommendations made late last year by the President’s opioid commission headed by former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie.